Control system



Jmllly 59 w49.

C. JOHNSON CONTROL 'SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 2, 1944 FRG.

| I l IL CLARENCE JOHNSON4 WVM (Ittorncg C. JOHNSON CONTROL SYSTEM July H949.,

2 sheds-sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1944 AIR SUPPLY INVENTOR.

' @MJ Mud- WQM W.

Patented July 5, 1949 2,415,326 coN'rnoL SYSTEM Clarence Johnson, South Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Bailey Meter Company, a corporation of Delaware Application March 2, 1944, Serial No. 524,707

Claims.

This invention relates to duplicators for controlling the operation of a material forming machine so that a work piece is formed to a contour or configuration determined by a template, pattern or cam.

One of the objects of my invention is to improve the sensitivity of contour control of the type described and to thereby increase the accuracy with which the work piece is formed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a contour control of materially simpler construction than those now available.

In accordance with my invention the template or cam for producing the desired configuration on the work piece is scanned by a tracer regulating a jet of iiuid from a nozzle. Variations in the shape of the template cause corresponding changes in the fluid discharged from the nozzle which variations are then used to control the relative positioning of the tool and work piece.

Further, in accordance with my invention the changes in fluid pressure control the relative positioning of the tool and work piece through a hydraulic relay and servo-motor, to the end that ample power is available for accurately positioning the tool relative to the work piece, or vice versa. The relative rates of movement of the tool and work piece in two or more directions are simultaneously controlled so that the rate of cutting feed of the tool remains substantially constant regardless of changes in contour or profile of the template, pattern or cam.

This application constitutes a continuationin-part of my copending applications Serial No. 412,017, led September 23, 1941, now Patent No. 2,372,427, granted March 27, 1945, and Serial No. 384,375, filed March 20, 1941, now Patent No. 2,372,426, granted March 27, 1945.

Obviously a duplicator or contour control of the type forming the subject matter of my invention may be employed with material forming machines or machine tools of various types, such as milling machines, lathes, slotters, planers. die sinking machines and other machines in which the relative feed between the tool and work may be suitably controlled. By way of example I illustrate and will describe my invention as applied to metal working lathes. Further applications and modifications of my invention will be readily apparent.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an engine lathe illustrating the application of my invention thereto.

Fig.2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the pneu- .matic and hydraulic control circuits employed in 2 the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transfer valve arrangement of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a lathe embodying a further arrangement in accordance with my invention.

Figures 5 and 6 are sections of work pieces set forth as an example of cross sections formable by the lathe of Figure 4.

As is well understood by those familiar with the art, in some machine tools such as lathes, the tool is moved longitudinally and transversely of the work piece which, except for rotation about its center, remains stationary. In other machine tools, such as some types of milling machines, the work piece may be moved in two directions, while the tool, except for rotation about its axis, remains stationary. In some other types of milling machines, and usually in die sinking machines, the tool may be moved in one or more directions and the work piece may also be moved in one or more directions. In all instances it will be observed, however, that it is the relative movement between the tool and work piece that causes the work piece to be formed to a desired shape. As one specific embodiment I have chosen to illustrate and describe my invention incorporated in a lathe wherein the work piece, except for rotation about its center, remains stationary and the tool is moved transversely and longitudinally thereof. It will thus be evident that my invention is applicable to a wide variety of machine tools, and that when I speak of relative movement between the tool and work piece I include either an arrangement where the tool is stationary and the work piece is moved, or where the work piece is stationary and the tool is moved, or a combination of the two.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I show my invention applied to an engine lathe i having a head stock 2 adapted t'o be rotated by any suitable means. The carriage 4 is movable longitudinally along the bed of the lathe in suitable 'ways 5 and supports the tail stock 3. Also movable longitudinally along the bed of the lathe in suitable ways t is a carriage 'l upon which is mounted a cross-slide 8 movable on ways transversely 0f the bed of the lathe.

The cross-slide 8 is provided with an adjustable tool support 9 in which is secured a. tool i0. Transverse movements of the tool l0 are produced through the agencyv of a hydraulic cylinder il having a piston i2 adapted to position the crossslide B through the agency of a piston rod I3. Longitudinal movements of the tool i0, that is movements of the tUDl parallel to the bed of the lathe in a longitudinal direction, are produced by means of a hydraulic cylinder Id having an operating piston rod I5.

Supported by the head stock 2 and the tail stock 3 is a work piece I6 which, for illustrative purposes, is shown as being formed to a parabolic shape by the tool I 3. This particular shape has no significance, it being apparent as the description proceeds that by my invention the work piece may be formed automatically to any desired contour. The master template or cam 'Il is rigidly held in parallelism to the work piece I6 upon any convenient extension I3 of the lathe bed. The profile of the master template I1 is the contour which it is desired to reproduce upon the work piece I6. In Fig. l the shape of the work piece I6 follows in general a parabolic function merely as an example. For contacting and following the profile of the master template I1 l provide a tracer assembly i9 rigidly mounted on and movable with the crossrslide 3. The tracer assembly I9 has a vertical extension 23 adapted to contact the front edge or proille of the master template I1. A body member or housing 2I is adjustably mounted to the cross-slide 8 and the tracer extension or arm 2G is carried with the body 2|. I

The tracer assembly I 9 may be of any convenient design. Suce it to say now that the tracer arm continually scans the profile of the template I7 and controls the bleed to atmosphere or a substantially constant pressure supply of compressed air. The variable bleed or rate of flow of air to the atmosphere produces corresponding changes in back pressure or pressure of the air effective to cause a positioning of the piston rods I3 and I5 for transverse and longitudinal'movements respectively of the tool I0.

In Fig. 2 I have shown diagrammatically the pneumatic and hydraulic circuits for controlling the servo-motors II and I4 by the tracer I9 in such manner that the motor II will position the cross-slide and consequently the tool I 0 transversely of the lathe, or in other words toward or away from the Work piece I6 as the tool is traveling longitudinally. The action is such that if the contacted edge of the master template I 1 is a straight line parallel to the axis of the work piece I6, then the work piece I6 would be turned to cylindrical form. If the contacted edge of the template I1 is a straight line, but inclined relative t'o the axis of the work piece I6, then the work piece I6 will be shaped to a taper. The particular showing of Fig. l is in general a parabolic curve on the contacted edge of the template I1, and thus the form which is to be produced on the Work piece I5.

Air under pressure from any convenient source is passed through a pressure regulator 22 and volume chamber 23 to a header 24, from which a branch 25 leads through an orice 26 to the tracer assembly I9. As the discharge from the tracer I9 to the atmosphere varies, the pressure in the branch 25 between the orifice 26 and the tracer assemblyISl will vary, and such controlled air pressure,A representative of changes in contour ci' the template I1, is effective upon a bellows 21 oi a pilot valve assembly 28 and simultaneously upon a bellbws29 of a fluid resistance assembly 30.

I show an oil pump 3i' driven by a motor 32 and drawing its supply of oil from a sump 33. Oil under pressure is'supplied the pilot valve 28 by the pump 3`Ithrough a pipe 34. From the pilot 'valve 28 oil is-supplied to end or Vthe other of the hydraulic motor I I through the pipes 35 or 36. Drainage from the pilotl 28 is returned to the sump 33 through a pipe 31. In the pipe 36 I show a hand adjustable valve 33 for variably throttling the ilow of oi1 therethrough and thus controlling the 'basic rate of travel of the piston rod I3. Within any preselected range of speed of piston travel the relay of the assembly 2B not only controls the direction of pistonl travel but the speed within said range.

In connection with the hydraulic motor I4 and adjustable fluid resistance assembly 30 I provide switching valves 39 and lill arranged to be moved together to either a "normal or a rapid traverse position of operation of the hydraulic motor Ill. Ihe valves 3S and Il are shown in Fig. 2 in the normal operating position. Oil under pressure from the pump 3 I is forced through a pipe di, the valve 130 and a pipe I3 to one end of the hydraulic motor I4. Oil from the other end of the motor passes through a pipe 42, the valve 40, the valve 39, the pipe 134, the adjustable iiuid resistance 30, and the pipe 45 to the sump 33. The regulation of the variable resistance 30 determines the rate of ilow of oil through the pipe 42, and consequently the rate of travel of the piston rod I5 toward the left in the drawing. Thus the rate of longitudinal travel of the tool I0 along the work piece I6 is controlled by the variable resistance 30 to passage of oil therethrough from the left-hand end of the motor I4.

In Fig. 3 I show the passage relation of the switching valves 39, 40 for a rapid return of the piston rod I5 from left to right of Fig. 2. That is for a rapid return of the tool I0 to the beginning of its working travel. Oil from the pump 3| passes directly through the pipe 4I, the valve 40, and the pipe 42; while oil from the right-hand end of the motor I4 passes directly through the pipe 43, the valve 40, the valve 39, to the pipe 45 and sump 33. Thus on the rapid return of the piston rod I5 there is no throttling of its speed of travel by the variable resistance 3U, and thus the tool is traversed to the right at maximum speed.

In general, the operation of the system illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is as follows. The air pressure established within the pipe 25 is such that the bellows 21 and 29 (and the movable parts of the assemblies 28. 30 positioned thereby) provide a normal condition of operation. The pilot valve assembly 28 locks oil from the pipes 35, 36 so that the piston rod I3 is not moving and thc tool II) travels a cutting path parallel to the axis of the work piece I6. At the same time the variable Iiuid resistance 30 is in a position to provide a normal speed of travel of the piston rod I 5 from right to left on the drawing, thus moving the tool I Il along the work at a uniform normal speed.

If the prole of the template I1 recedes from the axis of the Work piece, or advances toward the axis of the work piece, the air pressure within the pipe 25 is correspondingly varied in proper direction to increase or decrease the air pressure within the bellows 21 and 20 and to cause a, corresponding positioning of the movable elements ofthe pilot v alve ,28 and iluid resistance 30. Such movement causes the hydraulic motor II to position the tool toward or away from the axis of the work. piece IS, and thus reproduce upon the work piece I6 the contour of the master template I1. At the same time any departure (in either direction) of themovablaelement of the varrable'resistaic 3Ufioi'n normal 4position will in- 5 crease the resistance to oil passage therethrough and tend to slowup travel of the pistoxrrodA Il. Thus longitudinal travel of the tool Il from right to left on the drawing will beat a speed slower than the normal speed depending upon the rate ot travel of the tool Il toward or away from the axis of the work piece I6. If, for example. `the proille of the template I1 includes Ia shoulder at right angles to parallelism with the axis of th work piece I8. then there will be a complete sto' page of longitudinal travel of the tool Il while the tool is advancing directly toward the axis" of the work piece' or is receding'directly there'- irom. Movement of the tracer arm 2l either toward or away from the contact edge ofthe Iverse position of the toolflll'relative the axis of template l1 from a neutral or normal position" results in a decrease in speed of travel of the tool I0 in a longitudinal direction from its normal speed of travel and irrespective as to whether the tool is advancing. toward the axis of the work piece or is receding from the axis.

, After complete travel of the tool has been accomplished from right to left, then a rapid return of the tool to the right may be accomplished by moving the switching valves 39, 40 to the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the connections to the cylinder I4 are reversed and the variable restriction 30 is made non-effective.

The system which I have just described in con- :nection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is in general -a twoelement control wherein the lathe tool is positioned both transversely and longitudinally of the work piece. It will, of course, be seen that either element may be employed without necessarily employing the second element. For example, a lathe or similar material forming machine may have the tracer assembly I9 control only the cross feed of the tool or only the longitudinal speed of the tool, or the two combined as I have just described. It may, however, in certain instances be desirable to include a third element, namely, a con trol of the speed of rotation of the work piece I6. so that the linear cutting speed of the tool will remain constant regardless of the diameter of the Work piece at which the tool is cutting. In other Words, so that the speed of rotation of the work piece i6 will be different when the tool I0 is cutting at a larger diameter than it is when the tool is cutting at a smaller diameter. To illustrate such apossibility I have indicated on Fig. 1 an oil motor 46 for rotating the work I6 and under the control of a tracer assembly ISA which may be mounted on and longitudinally moved with the carriage l. 0n the cross-slide 8 I locate a cam surface 4l movable with the tool I0 and relative to the tracer arm A oi the tracer assembly ISA so that the tracer arm 20A is deflected by the cam 4l an amount indicative of the transverse position of the tool I0 relative to the. axis of the work piece I6.

As explained in connection with Fig. 2, the tracer assembly IBA may control a variable fluid restriction A in the supply line 48 leading from the pump 3l to the motor 46, or in the discharge line 49 between the motor 46 and the sump 33, so that the speed of the motor 46 will depend entirely upon the position of the tracer arm IIIA relative to the assembly IBA,` and consequently will depend upon the transverse location of the cutting tool I0. The tracer assembly ISA is connected to the air header 24 through a branch 50 and applies a regulated air pressure to the bellows 5I of the iluid restriction assembly 34A, lsuch pressure bearing a deinite relation to the transthe work piece I4.

- In other'words, as the diameter at which the tool Il is cutting increases or decreases, the speed' of rotation ofthe work piece Il will correspondingly decrease or increase respectively. It will be apparent that this third element of control may be included. on the lathe of Figs. l, 2 and 3,

'either alone or in combination with either or both ot 'the two elements oi transverse and longitudinal tool travel.

I Fig. 4 I illustrate a further embodiment of my invention. Here for the ilrst time I illustrate the control of three elements of lathe operation from a single tracer I9. In other words, not only the transverse and longitudinal positioning of the tool, but the speed of rotation of the work, are all simultaneously controlled by the tracer I9 scanning the pattern |44. In this embodiment the pattern |44 takes the general form of a bottle, as for example, a part for a bottle mold which may be of circular or rectangular cross-section and which form is to be reproduced in a work piece |45. Preferably the head stock 2 rotates the work piece |45, which in turn rotates the pattern I44. As the tracer I9 scans the pattern |44 the tool I0 shapes the work piece |45.

If the desired shape of the work piece |45 is such that any section taken therethrough at right angles to the axis of the lathe is a circle, then the pattern |44 may be, for example, a thin plate template and need not be rotated by and with the work piece. If, however, a section taken through the work piece |45 normal to the axis thereof is desirably of square or elliptical or other shape, then the pattern |44 may have the same shape and be rotated by or with the work piece |45.

A particular advantage of the arrangement shown, is that the tracer I9 may be used to control the speed of rotation of the work piece at the same time as controlling the transverse and longitudinal movement of the tool when scanning a pattern having other than circular crosssection. Thus a single tracer replaces the two tracers I9 and ISA of Fig. 1.

The tracer I9 controls the back pressure of air in a header |46 which feeds the bellows of the vari-able ud resistances 30 and 3llA as Well as the iluid pilot valve 28. Thus the devices 28, 30 and 30A are simultaneously controlled by the tracer I9. As previously mentioned in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, the relay 2B controls the servo-motor I I, the uid resistance 30 controls the servo-motor I4, and the fluid resistance 30A controls the servo-motor 46.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I show in section examples of pattern |44 which may be used in the arrangement of Fig. 4 to form the work piece |45 to other than circular cross-section. Fig. 5 shows an elliptical, and Fig. 6 a generally square, cross-section such as might be desired if the work piece |45 is to be shaped for use in bottle molding for example. Substantially 'any desired cross-section may be used inpattern I 44. When other than circular cross-section, the pattern is-rotated at the same speed as the work piece. As'the crosssection deviates from circular it will probably be necessary to adjust the basic range of speed of rotation of the work and pattern and this is accomplished through the agency of hand valve I4I. As the pattern is rotated the tracer follows its contour and the tool moves toward or away from the axis of the work piece, thus duplicating inA the workpiece the cross section ci the pattern.

As the tracer moves (by servo-motor i4) axially of the pattern, tire tool travels likewise longitudinally of the work and forms the work to the shape of the pattern. As the tracer approaches or recedes from the axis of the pattern the speed of rotation of the work and pattern is varied within the range chosen by valve 141.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity in its preferred form. it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a lathe having a relatively movable tool and work piece, a rst hydraulic motor means for relatively moving the tool and Work piece transversely, a second hydraulic motor means for relatively moving the tool and work piece longitudinally, a third hydraulic motor means for rotating the work piece relative to the tool, a pattern having the desired shape of the work piece, a tracer mechanism includingr a fluid jet of normally constant pressure for traversing the pattern as the tool traverses the work, and a plurality of separate means all sensitive to variations in tracer jet pressure separately controlling said three motor means.

2. In a metal forming machine having a relatively movable tool and work piece, a iirst motor 8 and pattern at regulable speed. all three said motor means simultaneously controlled by said tracer.

4. In a lathe having a relatively movable tool and work piece, in combination, a pattern having the desired shape of the work piece and located axially in line with the work piece, a tracer adapted to scan the pattern as the tool traverses the work, a nrst motor means positioning the tool toward or away from the work at regulable speed according to the dictates of the pattern, a second motor means traveling the tool longitudinally of the work in one direction at regulable speed, and a third motor means adapted to rotate the work piece at regulable speed, all three said motor means simultaneously controlled by said tracer. 5. In a metal forming machine having a relatively movable tool and workpiece, rst motor means for effecting relative movement of said tool means for eiecting relative movement of said tool and work piece in one path, a second motor means for eiecting relative movement of said tool and work piece along another path, a third motor means for moving the work piece at a controllable speed, a pattern having the desired shape4 of the work piece, and a tracer scanning the pattern and simultaneously controlling the three motormeans, said tracer including a port to atmosphere through which fluid is continuously passed, the rate of discharge of fluid controlled by said pattern.

3. In a lathe having a relatively movable tool and work piece, in combination, a pattern having the desired shape oi the work piece and located axially in line with and rotated with said work piece, a tracer adapted to scan the pattern as the tool traverses the work, a rst motor means positioning the tool toward or away from the work at regulable speed, a second motor means traveling the tool longitudinally of the Work in one direction at regulable speed, and a third motor means adapted to simultaneously rotate the Work piece and workpiece along a nrst path, second motor means for eiecting relative movement of said tool and workpiece along a second path, third motor means for eecting relative rotational movement of sail tool and workpiece. a pattern, and a tracerscanning the pattern and simultaneously controlling all three motor means, said tracer including a port to atmosphere through which fluid is continuously passed, the rate of discharge of fluid controlled by said pattern. y

CLARENCE JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenloes are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 62,977 Stevens Mar. 19, 1867 340,288 Codling Apr. 20, 1886 724,676 Derrer Apr. 7, 1903 1,028,036 Lee May 28, 1912 1,667,153 Heymann Apr. 24, 1928 1,754,046 Raiierty Apr. 8, 1930 2,016,931 Richard Oct. 8, 1935 2,025,748 Howe Dec. 31, 1935 2,068,890 Sassen Jan. 26, 1937 2,076,865 Romaine Apr. 13, 1937 2,150,032 Herman Mar. 7, 1939 2,259,472 Johnson Oct. 21, 1941 2,277,075 Dahl Mar. 24, 1942 2,331,817 Turchan Oct. 12, 1943 2,372,426 Johnson Mar. 27, 1945 2,422,681 Johnson June 24, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,671/30 Australia Mar. 19, 1931 

